Political observers: Case had already harmed Blagojevich

A federal judge’s decision to out Gov. Rod Blagojevich as “Public Official A” in a corruption case may not harm him further because he was already so damaged, political observers say.

Aaron Chambers

A federal judge’s decision to out Gov. Rod Blagojevich as “Public Official A” in a corruption case may not harm him further because he was already so damaged, political observers say.

“I think the damage of this investigation has already been done, at least up to this point,” said Chris Mooney, a political studies professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield. “The fact that everybody now knows he is Public Official A, rather than just assuming it, isn’t going to make much difference.”

Blagojevich and his aides have for months maintained he is not the “Public Official A” appearing repeatedly in documents describing the alleged crimes of Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a former top Blagojevich fundraiser and adviser.

But U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve made it clear Monday that Blagojevich is the official.

In an order pertaining to evidence prosecutors intend to offer at Rezko’s trial, which begins Monday, she substituted Blagojevich’s name for “Public Official A” when detailing criminal activities allegedly perpetrated by Rezko and others.

“People who thought he was a liar will be satisfied because they now have confirmation,” said David Morrison, deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. “And people who stood by him for other issues will perhaps acknowledge that he’s got bigger legal troubles than they thought.”

The governor has not been charged with a crime. But prosecutors say his campaign stood to gain from kickbacks sought by Rezko in the course of shaking down firms seeking state business.

In one case, the feds say, the campaign fund of Public Official A would have collected $1.5 million that Rezko and Stuart Levine, a political insider cooperating with the feds, allegedly tried to extort from an investment firm in return for a state contract.

Blagojevich aides did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Doug Whitley, president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, noted a parallel between Blagojevich and former Gov. George Ryan, who came under intense federal scrutiny near the end of his one term. After leaving office in 2003, Ryan was convicted of public corruption and sent to prison.

Blagojevich just started the second year of his second term. Whitley said the already reclusive Blagojevich may now become even more isolated, just as Ryan did.

“We may now be beginning to repeat the situation where the governor may be less than fully effective because of the emerging scandal,” he said.

Register Star reporter Andrea Zimmermann contributed to this report.
Staff writer Aaron Chambers can be reached at 217-782-2959 or achambers@rrstar.com.